Surcharges:- scenic flight over the Vipava Valley from €60, based on the price list of Josip Križaj Ajdovščina Aero Club - tasting of typical local products in the Faladur shop, from €4 to €20

Description of the itinerary:

The Vipava Valley – So much of everything I (7 days):Day 1: Arrival to Vipava in the morning hours. Tour of the town of Vipava, which is well-known for its castles, ancient Egyptian sarcophagi and the numerous sources of the River Vipava. We will make a stop at the Vipava Wine Store, watch the film “The Vipava Valley – So Much of Everything!” and taste the indigenous wine Zelen. What follows is a tour of Zemono Manor and lunch at a traditional farm known as “osmica” or a selected tourist farm. Next we will visit a fruit farm, where you can taste cherries (in season) or homemade juices and jams. We will then take a tour of the village of Podnanos, the birthplace of the Slovenian anthem, and see a beekeeper in Lozice, where you can taste honey and honey products. After dinner in one of the Vipava inns we will spend the night in private apartments.

Day 2: Departure for the village of Vrhpolje, where a battle between the armies of Roman Emperor Theodosius and his rival Emperor Eugenius took place between the 5th and 6th September 394. We will take a walk to the Cross of Theodosius and then to the renovated Church of St. Primus and Felician, which is decorated with a mosaic by Father Marko Ivan Rupnik. What follows is a tour of the largest wine cellar in the Vipava Valley, Vipava 1894, and a tasting of Zelen sparkling wine. After lunch at the Vipavski hram Restaurant we will head to Goče for a tour of the village and some typical vaulted wine cellars. Next we will taste Vipava wines at a selected winery, have dinner at Cejko’s Homestead in Goče and settle in at apartments in Vipava or at a tourist farm in the town’s surroundings.

Day 3: Arriving in Ajdovščina, we will take a walk around the walls of a Roman fort known as Castra and visit the Ajdovščina Museum. A stop will be made at the Faladur shop, where you will have the opportunity to taste and purchase typical products from the Vipava Valley. Next we will go for a walk along the Natural Science Trail to the Hubelj spring, have a look at the heritage of iron smelting and enjoy a lunch of local dishes in the nearby Pri izviru Hublja Inn. What follows is a transfer to Vipavski Križ, a medieval little Karst village situated on a hill in the heart of the Vipava Valley. We will take a look around the village and the monastery with its well-stocked library. Next we will head towards Lokavec, where we will visit the Forge Museum of Mihael Kuš and the ethnological collection Batič House, which preserves its 200-year-old history. We will enjoy dinner of delicious homemade dishes at the Černigoj Farm and spend the night in modern apartments at the Pri Rebkovih Tourist Farm in Lokavec.

Day 4: Following a local breakfast we will head to Planina, take a tour of the village, stroll to the Church of St. Paul and have a look at how typical Vipava dishes are prepared and how bread is baked in the traditional Slovenian bread oven at the Pipan Farm, where you will be able to purchase their homemade delicacies. Next we will have a wine tasting in a select wine cellar and you will be able to meet the Wine Queen of Slovenia, Špela Štokelj. We will then head to Ajdovščina, look around the Ajdovščina sport airfield and, weather permitting, take a scenic flight over the Vipava Valley. After lunch at the Sivi Čaven Inn in Potoče, we will depart for Brje. What follows is a tour of the village, a stroll to the settlement of Sveti Martin with a church and a wine tasting at the winegrowing farm of the Stegovec family – Vina Sveti Martin. We will have dinner and spend the night at the Birsa Tourist Farm in Brje.

Day 5: After breakfast we will head to Zalošče and go on a circular hike. The undemanding marked trail begins at the bus stop in Zalošče and wends its way through vineyards, olive groves and peach orchards. It is 4 km long. We will enjoy lunch at the Saksida Tourist Farm in Zalošče and go to an exhibition dedicated to Alexandrian women, i.e. Slovenian women who emigrated to Egypt, in Prvačina. What follows is a wine tasting at the Colja Farm in Steske and at the Bizjak Farm in Branik. We will spend the night at the Slavček Tourist Farm in Dornberk.

Day 6: After breakfast we will head to Sabotin Hill, have lunch in a Sabotin snack bar, and take a look at the caverns from World War One and the museum collection. In Nova Gorica we will take a tour of Kostanjevica Monastery, see Europe Square and the Solkan Bridge. We will enjoy a JNK wine tasting in Šempas. Next we will head to the Malovščevo Tourist Farm, have dinner and a wine tasting and stay there for the night.

Day 7: After breakfast we will head to Kromberk Castle and take a tour of the castle. Next we will have a wine tasting at the Ipavec Geržina Farm in Osek, followed by lunch and wine tasting at the Mama Wine Cellar in Ajševica. You will have the opportunity to visit the Nova Gorica Casino. Return home.

The Vipava Valley – So much of everything II (4 days):

Day 1: Tour of the town of Vipava. We will make a stop at the Vipava Wine Store, watch the film “The Vipava Valley – So Much of Everything!” and taste the top-quality indigenous wine known as Zelen. What follows is a tour of Zemono Manor and lunch at a traditional farm known as “osmica” or a selected tourist farm. Next we will visit a fruit farm, where you can taste cherries or homemade juices and jams. We will then head to the village of Goče and take a look at some typical vaulted wine cellars. We will also taste Vipava wines at a select winery, have dinner at Cejko’s Homestead in Goče and settle in at a tourist farm or in apartments located in Vipava or its surroundings.

Day 2: Arriving in Ajdovščina, we will take a walk around the walls of a Roman fort known as Castra and visit the Ajdovščina Museum. We will make a stop at the Faladur shop, where you will have the opportunity to taste and purchase typical products from the Vipava Valley. Next we will go for a walk along the Natural Science Trail to the Hubelj spring, have a look at the heritage of iron smelting and enjoy a lunch of local dishes in the nearby Pri izviru Hublja Inn. We will look around the Ajdovščina sport airfield and, weather permitting, take a scenic flight over the Vipava Valley. Then we will head to the settlement of Sveti Martin above the village of Brje, visit the 16th century church of St. Martin with its wonderful view, have a wine tasting at the winegrowing farm of the Stegovec family – Vina Sveti Martin. We will have dinner and spend the night at the Birsa Tourist Farm in Brje.

Day 3: After breakfast we will head to Zalošče and go on a circular hike. The undemanding marked trail begins at the bus stop in Zalošče and wends its way through vineyards, olive groves and peach orchards. It is 4 km long. We will enjoy lunch at the Saksida Tourist Farm in Zalošče and go to an exhibition dedicated to Alexandrian women, i.e. Slovenian women who emigrated to Egypt, in Prvačina. What follows is a wine tasting at the Colja Farm in Steske and at the Bizjak Farm in Branik. We will spend the night at the Slavček Tourist Farm in Dornberk.

Day 4: After breakfast we will head to Kromberk Castle and take a tour of the castle. We will taste wine at the Mama Wine Cellar in Ajševica and at the Ipavec Geržina Farm in Osek. Lunch will be had at the Malovščevo Tourist Farm in Vitovlje. Return home.